Family Pride; Or, Purified by SufferingHolmes, Mary Jane
General
Family Pride; Or, Purified by Suffering
Holmes, Mary Jane
American fiction; Dime novels
"What picture?" and Katy looked up inquiringly, while Juno, with a
little sarcastic laugh, continued: "Oh, he has not told you, then. I
thought he would not, he seemed so angry and annoyed when he saw me with
it once three or four years ago. I found it in his room, where he had
accidentally left it, and was looking at it when he came in. It was the
picture of a young girl, who must have been very beautiful, and I did
not blame Will for loving her, if he ever did, but he need not have been
so indignant at me for wishing to know who it was. I never saw him so
angry or so much disturbed. I hope you will ferret the secret out and
tell me, for I have a great deal of curiosity, fancying that picture
had something to do with his remaining so long a bachelor. I do not mean
that he does not love you," she added, as she saw how white Katy grew.
"It is not to be expected that a man can live to be thirty without
loving more than one. There was Sybil Grey, a famous belle, whom I
thought at one time he would marry; but when Judge Grandon offered she
accepted, and Will was left in the lurch. I do not really believe he
cared, though, for Sybil was too much of a flirt to suit his jealous
lordship, and I will do him the justice to say that, however many
fancies he may have had, he likes you best of all," and this Juno felt
constrained to say because of the look in Katy's face, a look which
warned her that in her thoughtlessness she had gone too far and pierced
the young wife's heart with a pang as cruel as it was unnecessary.
Bell had tried to stop her, but she had rattled on until now it was too
late, and she could not recall her words, however much she might wish to
do so. "Don't tell Will," she was about to say, when Will himself
appeared, to take Katy out to dinner. Very beautiful and sad were the
blue eyes which looked up at him so wistfully, and nothing but the
remembrance of Juno's words, "He likes you best of all," kept Katy from
crying outright, when he took her hand, passing it between his own and
asking if she was tired.
"Let us try what dinner will do for you," he said, and in silence Katy
went with him to the pleasant dining-room, where the glare and the
ceremony bewildered her, bringing a homesick feeling as she thought of
Silverton, contrasting the elegance around her with the plain tea table,
graced with the mulberry set instead of the costly china before her.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account